Tarun Gogoi assures to provide special force for people's protection in vulnerable areas

Guwahati, 8 May-2014, PTI: A special force will be raised for protection of people in the vulnerable violence-hit areas of BTAD districts, while 34 additional companies of security forces were sought from the Centre, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said today.

Tarun Gogoi assures to provide special force for people’s protection in vulnerable areas

“A special force will be raised with recruitment of local people on the lines of the Village Defence party (VDP) to guard the vulnerable areas and for protection of the people there,” Gogoi told reporters here.

The people in the force will be recruited from local areas only so that they will stay there and the problem of transfers will not arise, the Chief Minister said.

“Providing security and confidence among the people in the violence affected areas is my prime consideration. I have sought additional 34 companies of security forces to be deployed there to bring confidence in the minds of the people,” Gogoi added.

The Chief Minister ensured the number of police stations and outposts there would be increased for a permanent solution to the problem and to instill a sense of security among the people.

“We also plan to keep police pickets in those interior places as well as in Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao districts where such problems also recur from time to time,” he said.

“We will have coordination with neighbouring Bhutan Government as the attackers sometimes escape there and even in Arunachal Pradesh,” the Chief Minister said.

Stating that no fresh violence was reported from Baksa and Kokrajhar districts after the two-day mayhem unleashed by militants, Gogoi said, “There is a feeling of insecurity among the people there”.

“The Army that was requisitioned then has now been de-requisitioned with the improvement in the situation. Of course the Army will continue with its routine counter- insurgency operations,” he added.

“The displaced 498 people affected are now being provided shelter in relief camps. We will take up with the SOS Village for the orphaned children to assure a good future for them. We will also take care of their education as well as rehabilitating the widows,” Gogoi said.

To criticisms from detractors within the Congress party and the cabinet, against him for “failing” to prevent such a situation, he shot back, “I am not bothered with what others are saying. Everyone has a right to criticize. Will I resign on other’s demand? I will continue to take my responsibility to give protection to the people. I am not sitting idle”.

“My duty and top priority now is to give relief, confidence and security to the affected people. Otherwise, I will be failing in my duty,” the Chief Minister said.

Downplaying the reported dissidence within his cabinet and MLAs threatening to bring a no-trust motion against him, Gogoi said, “The Centre has praised me. If there is any shortcoming, my party high command will take action against me. I don’t hanker after power”.